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Have you ever wondered why some critics review films? They don't even seem to like movies that much from what they write. I LOVE movies, and think about them long after the last credits roll across the screen. My reviews are meant to inform, entertain and never have a spoiler.

Enjoy my reviews and please comment and come back frequently! Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures was
nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer, and
Best Adapted Screenplay at this year’s Academy Awards. Based on real events, and
real African-American women, the film chronicles their work at NASA when the
push to get a man into space was a priority.

It was 1961, and a number of African-American women were
employed at Langley as mathematicians. Remember this was pre-computer era; in
fact, IBM was just delivering the first computer system to NASA at this time.

The Russians were the first to get a man as well as that
little dog into space, and the U. S. needed to follow suit promptly. This was
the Cold War, and the fear of Russian missiles aimed down on America from space
was a very real fear.

Al Harrison (Kevin Costner) is the chief of the program,
supervising a team of white males until math genius Katherine Johnson (Taraji
Henson) comes on board. Her two closest friends also work at NASA, Dorothy
Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae). Civil rights for
blacks in America is in the forefront, and the struggle does not omit the women
who work in a predominantly while male world in the space program.

The chipping away at prejudice and degrading practices is
depicted for all the women, and it’s really a mutual enlightening for the
management and coworkers of the women. I’m not going to go into detail on this
because you need to see it happening for yourself in this film.

The other thing I found fascinating was these scientists and
mathematicians put John Glenn (Glen Powell) into orbit around the earth without
computers! All using calculating machines, pencils and paper, huge equations
that certainly did not make sense to me on gigantic chalkboards. The extent to
which they persevered and made it work is incredible.

Dorothy and Mary take their careers into their own hands and
strive to further educate themselves. These women are shining examples for all
little girls to see, so they too can believe in themselves and not ever give
up.

They were not unlike most women today who have to juggle
work and children either. Added in is the discrimination that was rampant and
waiting to be torn down.

The film is rated PG for thematic elements and some
language. The costume design and settings were authentically crafted. I loved
seeing all those rows of now vintage automobiles in the Langley parking lot,
and the clothing the women wore was a blast from the past. Skirts and heels,
and the men all wore suits. Sometimes I really long for those days when even to
go to the grocery store, people dressed like they deserved respect.

It is sad that discrimination and prejudice are still
undercurrents of American society. Although some things have changed, there is
much still to be done. This film and others like it brings to awareness the
inestimable contributions of those women of color that until now have been Hidden Figures.